Review Summary: A perfect entry point to the world of psychedelic drone
There is a certain beauty in nothingness. Given the cluttered lives that we all lead, with our eyes locked into some form of electrical stimulus for the entirety of our day to day activities, and even then our leisure is normally spent in front of a television or at a movie, watching people act out entirely arbitrary events for a chuckle or the hint of a tear, it's hard to find moments where we are truly enveloped by natural sounds. Here's where Natural Snow Buildings come in. Their newest album in their ridiculously expansive catalog channels the sounds and emotions of the serene calm that comes from those rare moments of escape.
Waves of the Random Sea floats peacefully, ever aware that our hectic schedules could intrude on the tranquility of it all, so it makes every second shine in a resplendent glow. It makes it that much easier to tune out all the pent up stress of modern living and take in the here and now, breathing it in and pushing it out in time with the pensive drone.
For those that have yet to venture into the esoteric world of psychedelic drone, Natural Snow Buildings have been making ethereal minimalistic soundscapes since the late 90's and to be quite frank, you'd be hard pressed to find a better band in the genre. Their sparse movements traverse the gamut of human emotions, and the songs contained on
Waves of the Random Sea continue to explore new crevices of the human psyche. It begins by beckoning the listener with an inviting calm; simple guitar melodies and even a few siren-esque vocals open the door but dark clouds hang on the horizon. Over the course of the album, Natural Snow Buildings take the listener on an inward journey, exposing the skeletons in even the darkest of closets with every stroke of droning keys. The longer you let it take you by the hand and lead you down the path, the more unnerving the picture is that it paints.
Being the layered, introverted listen that it is, Natural Snow Buildings'
Waves of the Random Sea is not going to appeal to everyone, and even those who are open to the road it leads down will see this as a mood album. It won't always be the most listened to album, but when the time comes for it, there are few pieces that are this affecting.
